Excavations 2006-2007

The Friends of Active Archaeology continued their evaluation at Broughton during 2006-7. Trench 3 was extended and almost completed; Trench 4 and Trench 4X1 were completed, these are planned to be extended again next season. The geophysical survey was extended and appears to show a possible building outline on an east west alignment. This bears a resemblance to the small villa described by Ramm (1977) at Settrington. It is also possible that this is a farm building associated with a nearby as yet unidentified villa or indeed an unidentified ladder settlement associated with the Malton to Hovingham Roman Road.

Trench 3 was extended to further investigate the v-shaped ditch. This extended right across the width of the trench and no variation in its route was found. During 2005 the ditch fills had been found to contain considerable amounts of Roman period pottery. Grey wares, Gritty wares, Mortaria and sherds of Parisian Ware from at least two vessels. Significant amounts of roof tile, Imbrex and Tegula suggest a structure of some importance existed nearby. To add to this a single female inhumation was found in a cist grave, this had been inserted into the backfill of a gully adjoining the larger ditch. The burial in the gully represents the final phase of the site. Aligned N-S with a votive offering of a chicken on the right shoulder; iron nails possibly made into a hair clasp and hobnails were also found within the grave. At the time of this report we weren’t sure if this burial was Roman or Post Roman!

Trench 4 consisted of an area of several layers of limestone rubble containing Romano British material. The compacted rubble had been covered in layers of clay also containing Romano-British material. The extension of the trench into the area of the building shown on the geophysics discovered several phases of activity. An area of limestone rubble appeared to be a levelled floor surface and a wall foundation beneath this corresponded with the alignment of a high resistance feature seen on the geophysical survey. In an earlier phase not seen on the geophysics was an apsidal ditch which in turn had cut through another earlier phase consisting of hearths/fire pits and a kiln like structures, representing small-scale industry. The whole of the North end of the trench showed scattered evidence of burning.

In the light of our findings in the last three years, our research objectives are now more focussed on understanding the form and function of our site and what its relationship might have been with Roman Malton

An extract from the report by J Kenny:-

Conclusions

The excavations at Broughton have continued to run as an entirely independent excavation extending the geophysical survey to reveal a probable Romano British building with a nearby ditch, drains and a stone metalled surface. As a process of evaluation the first three years of investigation have revealed reasonable stratigraphic preservation where deposits have been protected by the large amounts of limestone rubble used in the metalled surfaces and presumably the foundations of the building suggested by geophysics, In terms of finds there appear to be a wide variety of pottery types and roof tile as well as some metallic objects and reasonably preserved human and animal bone. The stratigraphic sequence ends with 19th century deposits relating to the railway line. Reference to the research agenda for the Romano British period in the hinterland of Malton and the Vale of Pickering suggests that the site at Broughton can make a useful contribution to the understanding of the period in this landscape.

The following priorities were suggested for future investigation at the end of the 2007 season :

• Better understanding of the nature of the deposits revealed as a probable building by the geophysics. • To achieve the above the 2008 excavations will proceed with an extension of trench 4 to the north to take in the central part of the building and the opening of a new trench (no 5) on the easterly end of the probable building. • Given the lack of environmental evidence from earlier excavations the remaining ditch fill will be sampled for environmental evidence. • The Friends of Active Archaeology will begin to raise funds for professional assessment of the small finds and pottery. Funds will also be raised to follow up the osteology report on the burial with carbon 14 dating and possibly isotope analysis of the burial. • To seek to understand the site in its broader landscape context, particularly given the patchy visibility issues raised regarding aerial photographic evidence in the Vales of York and Pickering and the very busy landscape demonstrated by Dominic Powlesland in his work to the east of Malton.

The Interim Report for 2006-7 is attached below. The report includes an Osteological report by Malin Holst on the burial.